Abbreviations and acronyms in computing:

Abbr./Acr. What it stands for What it means

CAL Computer-assisted learning Using computers to help you
learn
CALL Computer-assisted language Using computers to help you
learning learn languages
HTML Hypertext markup language A way to write documents so
they can be displayed on a
website
HTTP Hypertext transfer protocol A set of rules for transferring
files on the WWW, usually
included in the beginning of
the website address
ICAME International Computer A collection of English-
Archive of Modern and language material available
Medieval English for computer processing
ICE International Corpus of A database of different
English samples of spoken and written
English
ISP Internet service provider A company which gives
individuals, companies, etc.
access to the Internet
MT Machine translation Using computers to translate
language
RAM Random-access memory The memory which the
computer uses for basic
processes
ROM Read-only memory A type of permanent computer
or disk memory that stores
information that can be read or
used but not changed
USB Universal serial bus A standard way to connect
things like printers and
scanners to a computer
VLE Virtual learning environment An online classroom
WWW World Wide Web A huge collection of
documents that are connected
by hypertext links and can be
accessed through the Internet

Warschauer’s model (2000):

Approach Structural CALL Communicative CALL Integrative CALL

Technology From mainframe to PCs Multimedia, Internet
mobile
English-teaching Grammar-translation Communicative Content-based
paradigm and Audio-lingual Language Teaching ESP/EAP
View of language Structural Cognitive Socio-cognitive
Principal use of Drill and practice Communicative exercises Authentic discourse
technology
Principal objective Accuracy Fluency Agency
View of learning Behaviorism Constructivism Social constructivism
Role of technology Tutor Tutee Mediational tool

Tutor, tutee, tool (Taylor, 1980):

Role Definition Example Learning theory

Tutor The computer teaches the Adaptive tutoring Behaviorist paradigm,
learner systems and drill-and- Skinner
practice applications
Tutee The learner teaches the Programming language Constructivist
computer called ‘Logo’ paradigm, Piaget
Tool Technology is the means Using a word-processing Social-constructivism,
by which a program to write an Vygotsky
task is achieved essay or editing-software
to create a video.

Communicative competence (Canale and Swain, 1980):

Elements
Linguistic competence
Sociolinguistic competence
Discourse competence
Strategic competence
Meaning
Knowing how the language works, being able to fit
together sounds to make words, and putting words into
grammatical sentences
Understanding how language is used in context – knowing
what words and phrases are appropriate in any particular
setting to achieve a desired communicative purpose
The ability to create and use larger pieces
of language to create texts or conduct conversations
The ability to manage and navigate communication to
repair communication breakdowns, and work around
unfamiliar areas of language

Communicative competence (from the game):

Elements Meaning
Discourse competence Involves the ability to interpret a series of
sentences or utterances in order to form a
meaningful whole and achieve unity of text
which are relevant to a given situation
Grammatical competence Refers to the mastery of linguistic code, ability
to recognize lexical, morphological, syntactic
and phonological description of a language and
to manipulate these features to produce words
and sentences
Strategic competence Refers to the mastery of verbal and non-verbal
communication strategies that may be used to
compensate for breaks downs in
communications because of limiting conditions
in actual communication and to enhance the

Sociolinguistic competence
Communicative competence
Performance
effectiveness of communication
Requires the understanding of the social
context in which language is used
Refers to the knowledge possessed by the
language user
The ability to apply competence

Timeline of educational technologies (Book, chapter 2): Infographics